Surname Wilde - Meaning and Origin

Discovering the Rich Legacy of the Wilde Surname: My Experience with iGENEA DNA Analysis

My DNA testing experience at iGENEA shed illuminating light on the fascinating historical journey tied to my surname, Wilde. From Anglo-Saxon England to waves of migration, and even the traits associated with the Wilde name, the wealth of information contained in the DNA analysis has opened up a deeper connection to my roots and sense of identity.

B. Wilde

Wilde: What does the surname Wilde mean?

The last name Wilde is of Anglo-Saxon origin and can be interpreted to mean ‘wild’ or ‘untamed’. The name is likely to have referred to someone who was wild, untamed, and perhaps even dangerous. It was likely to have been an occupational surname, given to someone whose job involved working with wild animals or wild lands - such as a hunter, trapper, or forester.

Alternatively, the name Wilde might have originated as a nickname for someone who had a wild personality - for example, someone who was impulsive, rebellious, reckless, or unquiet. Someone with this kind of nickname wouldn't necessarily have been considered dangerous, but they were probably seen as being somewhat unpredictable and uncontrollable.

The use of Wilde as a surname is found throughout Europe, with records extending into the 16th century. In England, it is considered a rare surname, with around 1,000 people bearing the name in the country. The popularity of the surname varied in other countries, with it being most popular in the USA and the Netherlands.

Wilde: Where does the name Wilde come from?

The last name Wilde is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is also found in other places of British origin, such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

The origin of this surname can be traced back to pre-Norman England, when it was spelled "Wylde". The name Wilde is derived from the Middle English and Old German words for "wild", which could refer to a wild animal or a person of a wild nature. It is also possible that the name was 'taken' by someone from a wild place.

In terms of its popularity today, an analysis of Census data provided by Forebears estimates that the name Wilde is the 16,837th most common surname in the world, with approximately 68,005 individuals bearing the name. The highest reported numbers of Wilde's can be found in the United States, with 10,740 people bearing the surname, followed by England, with 6,462 individuals, and Ireland, with 6,020 -- nearly triple the amount of other countries.

Overall, the last name Wilde is particularly common in Britain and its former colonies, and could be attributed to the countries’ shared history and culture.

Variations of the surname Wilde

The surname Wilde is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and can be found throughout the English-speaking world. It is derived from the Old English word wil(d)de, which translates as 'meadow' and therefore suggests an origin in an area with lush vegetation.

The variants and spellings of Wilde depend on the geographical location. In England, variants such as Wild, Wylde and Wield can be found, while in Scotland the variant Wildie is more common.

The surname Wilde is also often combined with a given name, as is the case in many European languages where surnames are formed from a given name and a cognomen. Examples of these combined surnames include Wildman, Wildsmith, Wildesmith, Wilder, Wildman and Wilder-Wilde.

In the United States, the surname has been anglicized to Wild, Wilds, Wildes and Wylds, and some immigrants have adopted different spellings altogether, such as Willd, Wied and Vilde. A recent study found that in the USA, human migration had spread the Wilde surname to nearly every state in the Union.

The surname Wilde is also found in other languages, such as Dutch, where it is spelled Wilde; in German, where it is spelled Wilde, Vilde or Witte; and in French, where it is spelled Vuillé, Villé, Wylde,Wild or Vildé.

In conclusion, the surname Wilde is a common one with many geographical variants. It is derived from the Old English word wil(d)de and has been anglicized and adopted into many different languages.

Famous people with the name Wilde

• Oscar Wilde: a renowned Irish writer, playwright, poet, and Freemason during the Victorian era, best known for his epigrams and plays such as The Importance of Being Earnest.
• Jimmy Wilde: the dominant British flyweight boxing champion between 1916–23 who retired undefeated in 23 professional bouts.
• Stephen Fry: an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, and television presenter best known for his roles in Blackadder and A Bit of Fry & Laurie.
• Dora Wilde: an American-born Australian actress and comedian who achieved success in the silent era and early talkies.
• Sir Arthur Wilde: a judge of unsurpassed legal acumen and the last Chief Justice of Ireland before Irish independence.
• Richard Wilde: an American politician and the first US Representative from Georgia, serving one term from 1789–1791.
• Speranza Wilde: an Irish writer, revolutionary, editor and nonconformist who achieved renown for her involvement in the nationalist political movement.
• Harry Wilde: a British actor, mostly known for his Carry On film and television appearances.
• David Ernest Sutherland Wilde: a celebrated ophthalmologist, who introduced innovative methods of cataract surgery and had influential roles in the formation of the College of Ophthalmologists and the British Medical Association.
• Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde: an Irish poet and playwright, most familiar for his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• William Wilde: an Irish eye and ear surgeon and an author aimed at preserving the history of his beloved Ireland.

Other surnames

WildWildayWildeisenWildeissWildesWildeyWildeysenWildgruberWildhirtWildhirthWildisenWildissWildmoserWildsWildy